The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-10-22


door open. Real fastening on the
door then was the key bolt. Be
tween 10 and ii o'clock when we ex.
amined her. Woman had been dead
from 10 to 10 hours.
Eighth witness, DIR. Brock: Ex-
amined her or o'clock p. m. She
had been dressed and was on the
table, l think. Drs. Fitch, Kelly,
Wade and l. We examined surface
of body. Was well nourished, we'll
muscled. Face some swollen. Bruis-
ed above right eye, scratches about
throat, skin broken. Would indi-
cate twas done by finger nails.
Discolorations about the back, most
dependent portions of body, back,
shoulders, hips, elbows and heels.
Parts down when lying ON her back.
Skin was not broken except on her
throat. Far as marks on back were
concerned, taken all together, would
indicate some struggling. Can not
say if marks were due to struggle or
natural causes. 1t might be due to
struggle, color of the face would in
dictate some choking on strangula-
ton. The gorged conditioa of the
lungs and trachea and the clotted
blood were produced by suffocation
or strangulation. The recent en-
gorged condition Of the lungs would
have stopped the action of the heart.
Heart and liver normal, nothing
but the lungs and brain extended
from interference of respiration.
Would say she came to her death
by suffocation or strapgulation, or
both, is my belief Don't think lick
over eye was fatal in this case. 1t
might have suspended respiration.
She would have been easier suffocat-
ed after respiration was suspended
by confusion over right eye. Total
cessation of respiration would extin-
guish life in one or two minutes
partial respiration would maintain
life some time. In afternoon we
were all there. She was dead from
II to "a hours then. Linen stiff;
fluid yellowish white. Marks OBJ
servable, but could not tell except
by glass. Uterus small size, with
peritonial tumor on it. Evidences
of catarrh of the womb and vagina.
Discharges of the womb and vagina.
Possible some of the seminal dis
charge had there been carnal inter
course. Position would have much
to do with the retention of the fluid.
In upright position it would pass of
more rapidly than in reclining posi-
ton. Several specimens of the womb
and vagina were examined by glass.
We found spermatozoon. Exhib-
tied no signs of vitality. A sperm
atozoon would not live long after the
death Of a person, as it is very sus-
ceptible to temperature Can't say
how long it had been deposited there.
Ordinary way of getting spermato-
zoon there is by sexual intercourse.
Likely to remain longer lying than
standing or walking.
Ninth witness, Or. McLane:- i
assisted in making microscopic ex-
animation. Was invited by DIR.
Kelly to view the body. Went with
him across the river Sunday morn
ing 9 o'clock. She was prepared for
burial. Examined her face and
neck. Marks on face and neck, both
sides Of centre of throat as if done
by the hand, and one corresponding
to the nail of the thumb. Suppose
the grasp to make that impression
would have been sufficient to sus
pend respiration. Respiration would
have been easier suspended after the
conclusion above the eye. Strangu-
lation would have produced the dis
celebration of the face. Life would
not remain over ~ minutes after
respiration ceased. ! believe she
died by strangulation, the livid color
of the face would be the effect of
strangulation. Assisted in making
an examination of the secretions OF
the os uteri and vagina. / found a
spermatozoon. 1t was not moving
but had the outlines Vitality had
left it. Difficult to say how long
it would remain, a few hours, ]
should say. Yes, sir, twould remain
longer when reclining. Would say
finding spermatozoon would indicate
there had been connection about
that time. Could not say if it were
voluntary or compulsory. Seminal
fluid put on white garment recent
ly, and found 90 hours afterward
would be starchy, slightly yellowish
tint. Attrition would likely break
the surface of the deposit Walking
or wearing would not be likely to do
so. No trouble to find this fluid on
a white garment. if there. Mrs. Reed
was there No signs of unhealthy
condition. Can't say how long she
had been dead.
Cross examination Extremely
dark, livid, color of the face showed
she had died from strangulation,
Microscope was all we had to use to
find spermatozoon. No better test.
It's shape was that of an elongated
tad-pole. No animation. If he
washed his hand 'twould leave no
stain, but if not 'twould present al
most the same color. Catarrhal dis
charge of the womb is like mucous
from other parts of the body.
'Twould not be of the same color of
semen.
In Chief-Would be owing with
what the finger came in contact.
Catarrh of the womb would not pro-
duce the spermatozoon we found.
Tenth witness, DR.. Mackey -
Catarrh of the womb in it's primary
stages would only excite the secre-
tions in their natural color, while
cases of longer standing would make
the discharge more yellowish. Dis
charges of the womb, in health, is
white. Seminal fluid is yellowish
grey and peculiar oder. Not diff
cult to detect the difference. The
discharge ceases when life is extinct.
l would suppose the discharge would
be in one place No specific time for
retention, if it passed away, 'twould
do so in 5 or hours if on her feet
in action. Spermatozoon would re-
main LONGER while reclinino and after